Indonesia floods leave 16 dead, tens of thousands displaced

Indonesian search and rescue members helping residents after a flood hit Manado, the capital city of the North Sulawesi province of Indonesia on Jan 15, 2014. At least 16 people have been killed and 40,000 have fled their homes after torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides on Indonesia's northern Sulawesi island, officials said on Thursday. -- PHOTO: AFP

MANADO, Indonesia (AFP) - At least 16 people have been killed and 40,000 have fled their homes after torrential rain triggered flash floods and landslides on Indonesia's northern Sulawesi island, officials said on Thursday.

Rivers on the island's northern tip overflowed and burst their banks, sending torrents of water surging through the city of Manado and surrounding areas that swept away poorly-constructed houses and vehicles.

People waded through waist-deep water to get to safety, while some took to rubber dinghies to escape the rapidly rising flood waters.

Many of those displaced took shelter in government buildings and churches in the Christian pocket of Muslim-majority Indonesia.